A year ago, Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin ran out of steam. After posting a 2.45 ERA through his first 25 starts, the left-hander faltered in late August and September, with an 8.00 mark in his last seven outings.

When right-hander Chase Anderson was called up in mid-May, Corbin offered him some advice — take it easy with your throwing between starts and save your bullets for September. Anderson took it to heart, and the Diamondbacks hope it keeps the 26-year-old fresh for the final month of the season.

"It was nice for him to tell me what he went through to help me out so I don't have to go through that," Anderson said.

Anderson allowed just one run and no walks over six innings on Sunday, striking out eight in a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. The outing quieted some alarm bells after Anderson gave up 10 earned runs in seven innings over his previous two starts.

On Sunday, Anderson pitched on six days' rest. He's also been smart with his between-starts workload.

As a result, his fastball averaged 93 mph and touched 95 on Sunday after sitting around 91-92 for much of August.

"I feel better now than I did in April, knock on wood," Anderson said. "I think it goes back to the routine and not doing as much in between."

Anderson was at just 86 pitches after six innings but was pulled from the game as the team doubles down on keeping him healthy. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson did the same with right-hander Josh Collmenter on Friday, and the team is still planning to go to a six-man rotation after Arizona's Triple-A affiliate wraps up its season.

After Corbin tired down the stretch in 2013 and ended up needing Tommy John surgery in March, the Diamondbacks aren't taking any chances with another young pitcher.

"We wanted him to pitch through September," Gibson said. "We don't want him to go into seven, eight, nine innings. There's a limit and we're going to try to give him enough to stay fresh."

Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington throws out a Rockies runner at first base at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Didi Gregorius rounds the bases after Nolan Reimold hits a two-run home run in the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Nolan Reimold rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off of Jorge De La Rosa in the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)

Diamondbacks' Nolan Reimold rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off of Jorge De La Rosa in the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington (R) high fives Nolan Reimold after his two-run home run drove in Didi Gregorius in the seventh inning against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Rockies' Nolan Arenado loses the ball as he tries to apply a tag at third to Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Mark Trumbo fist bumps Ender Inciarte after he scores in the first inning against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte heads past second after stealing the base and running to third on a past ball against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)

Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte heads into third after stealing second base and running to third on a past ball against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)

Rockies' Nolan Arenado loses the ball as he tries to apply a tag at third to Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Rockies' Brandon Barnes is unable to check his swing and gets a called strike against the Diamondbacks' Chase Anderson at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' David Peralta high fives Aaron Hill after Hill scores in the third inning against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Sunday, August 31, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Rockies' Josh Rutledge makes the force out at second on Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington and throws to first for the double play on David Peralta at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Former Diamondbacks player Bob Brenly hugs current third base coach Glenn Sherlock after throwing out the first pitch at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Rockies' Matt McBride high fives third base coach Dave McKay as he rounds third after a home run against the Diamondbacks in the second inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill takes to the batter's box wearing the classic Diamondbacks' uniform against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb throws out Rockies' Tyler Maztek at first base at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington (L) and Nolan Reimold celebrate after a near collision during a catch against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)

Diamondbacks' Mark Trumbo and manager Kirk Gibson watch the action from the dugout dressed in classic Diamondbacks uniforms for Alumni Day against the Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Photo: Patrick Breen/azcentral sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jake Lamb celebrates with teammates at home plate after hitting a grand slam against the Colorado Rockies in the eight inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (Photo: Michael Schennum/azcentral sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta scores on a wild pitch in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (Photo: Michael Schennum/azcentral sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter throws a pitch during their baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (Photo: Michael Schennum/azcentral sports)

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Anderson has never pitched in September. Due to various injuries, his career high for innings entering this season was 1081/3, in 2010. Between Double-A and the majors this year, he's at 1371/3.

Generally, a 30-inning jump is considered the maximum a pitcher should make season-to-season. The extra rest provided by a six-man rotation will help alleviate any issues from Anderson surpassing that threshold, but the Diamondbacks are still keeping a close eye on him.

Notable: Cahill had a good run of starts going (3.43 ERA in his last seven) before getting walloped by the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week to the tune of six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Against the Padres, he has a career 2.72 ERA in 43 innings. Cahill used his changeup 23 percent of the time in August, his most of any month since August of 2009. … Ross has been consistently excellent for the Padres all year, with his ERA never rising above 3.68 since his second start of the season. He has a 1.96 mark in his last 13, all of them quality starts. His peripherals, like strikeout-to-walk ratio, are similar to last season when he posted a 3.17 ERA.

Padres update: Since dropping two of three to the Diamondbacks last weekend, the Padres have gone 4-1 entering Sunday, winning their last three in walk-off fashion. Before the final game of their three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, the Padres were 8 ½ games ahead of the Diamondbacks in the National League West. Only two San Diego regulars have an OPS over .750 – outfielder Seth Smith (.852) and catcher Rene Rivera (.750).